‘I am sorry you should impute to me any such sordid motive,’ said Lucius quietly. ‘My reason for offering my services gratis is plain and above board. There is no fireside at this end of the town at which I care to sit, no society congenial to me. I spend all my evenings alone, generally in hard study, sometimes with the books I love, or with my violin for my companion. This kind of life suits me well enough on the whole. Yet there are intervals of depression in which I feel its exceeding loneliness. No man is all-sufficient to himself. Give me the privilege of spending an evening here now and then—I will not wear out my welcome—and let me watch your case as a labour of love. You say that the recompense you can offer me will be small. Better for both your dignity and mine that there should be none at all.’ ‘You speak fair,’ answered Sivewright, ‘but that’s a common qualification. I have a granddaughter there whom you may imagine to be my heiress. If she is, she is heiress only to my collection; and even my judgment may be mistaken as to the value of that. In any case, consider her disposed of—put her put of the question.’ ‘Grandfather!’ remonstrated the girl again, this time blushing indignantly. ‘Better to speak plainly, Lucille.’ ‘Since you cannot see me in any character except that of a fortune-hunter, sir,’ said Lucius, rising, ‘we had better put an end to the discussion. There are plenty of medical men in this neighbourhood. You can find an adviser among them. I wish you good-evening.’ ‘Stop,’ exclaimed Sivewright, as the surgeon walked straight to the door, wounded inexpressibly, ‘I didn’t mean to offend you. But you offered me your friendship, and it was best you should know upon what footing I could accept the offer. You now know that I have no money to leave any one—don’t suppose me a miser because I live poorly; that’s a common error—and that my granddaughter is disposed of. Knowing this, do you still offer me your professional services for nothing? do you still wish for a place beside my hearth?’ ‘I do,’ said the young man eagerly, and with one swift involuntary glance at Lucille, who sat motionless, except for the dexterous hands that plied those shining wires. He thought of the humiliation of Hercules, and how well it would have pleased him to sit at her feet and hold the worsted that she wound. ‘So be it then; you are henceforth free of this house. My door, which so seldom opens to a stranger, shall offer no barrier to you. If you discover circumstances in our lives that puzzle you, do not trouble yourself to wonder about them. You will know all in good time. Be a brother to Lucille.’ She held out her hand to the visitor frankly at these words. He took it far more shyly than it was given. ‘And be a son,’ with a long regretful sigh, ‘if you can, to me. I told you the other day that I liked your voice, that I liked your face. I will go farther to-night and say, I like you.’